Page 63 of My Rockstar Ex's Broken Vows

The waitingroom is quiet except for the soft hum of the HVAC system and the occasional rustle of papers from the receptionist’s desk. I sit on the edge of the chair, my hands clenched in my lap, trying to keep my leg from bouncing.

My stomach twists as I glance at the clock on the wall. Five minutes until my appointment. Five minutes until I have to say all of this out loud to someone who’s probably heard worse but will still look at me like my life’s a mess.

I'm doing Wordle to keep my mind from attacking me. A text comes through and I click the bubble to open it. My heart drops. It’s Callum.

You said Friday. Can I see you? I need to see you. Dinner tonight?

My body tingles as I stare at the message. Guilt threads through the anxiety already bubbling in me. I should tell him what’s going on, but I can’t. Not yet. I type back quickly.

I’ll let you know.

I shove the phone back into my bag before I can overthink it.

The door opens, and a beautiful Black woman in her late thirties or early forties sticks her head in. "Ms. Walker? Right this way."

I hate that name. I force a smile, "Yes."

I stand, clutching my bag tightly as I follow her down the hall. She stops to reach out her hand and introduce herself, "Hi. I’m Tip. I work with Gus. You’ll find I’m much more interesting to talk to."

I already like her. "Hi, Tip. Love your name. Thanks for taking care of me."

"You bet. Follow me. Gus is ready for you." I follow her into an office that’s just as sharp and professional as the man who stands when we walk in.

His desk is sleek and modern and the shelves are lined with books that have spines that look too pristine to have ever been opened. Tip slips out and closes the glass door behind her.

He gestures to the chair across from his desk, and I sit, trying to remember to breathe.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Walker. I’m Gus Jolie. It’s nice to meet you," he says, folding his hands neatly on the desk.

"Thank you for seeing me on short notice. You were referred to me by my friend, Brook Lawson."

"Yes, Brooke is a good friend. I’m happy to help. You’re looking for some advice regarding custody arrangements?"

I nod, my throat tightening. "Yes. My ex-husband—Marcus—he’s threatening to take me to court. He says I’ve been introducing people into Ollie’s life who aren’t safe."

Gus raises an eyebrow. "And by ‘people,’ you mean...?"

"Callum Reid," I say, my voice low. "He’s... an old friend. But Marcus saw Ollie, our son, on Tuesday, and apparently Ollie mentioned Callum to him. Told him he’s in a rock band. Marcus knows Callum. He was my boyfriend in college before Marcus and I got married. It’s complicated, but that is the gist."

"Okay, let's start from the beginning. Give me your history and how it intersects with your ex-husband, Marcus. I need the full picture so I can make sure I understand what we are dealing with."

I give it to him. Everything, from Marcus and I as friends, to the abrupt break-up, to the one-night stand all the way to today, this very minute.

"And when did it become a problem? When did Marcus threaten you with suing for full custody?"

I pause, taking a shaky breath. "Marcus called me that night, Tuesday night, furious. Said I was being reckless, exposing Ollie to someone with an unpredictable lifestyle. He said he would fight me for full custody. And he has the money and legal resources to bury me."

The lawyer leans back slightly, adjusting his glasses. "And how serious is your relationship with this Callum?"

"We’re just... seeing each other," I say, the words feeling too small to explain everything Callum and I are. "It’s new. And it’s separate from Ollie. I haven’t introduced them formally. I wouldn’t. Not yet."

He nods slowly, jotting something down in a notebook. "Does Marcus have any legal grounds to claim your behavior is endangering your son?"

I shake my head. "No. I’ve always prioritized Ollie. Marcus and I share custody, and I’ve never done anything to violate our agreement. But Marcus is controlling. He likes things his way. And he also has always felt threatened, or I should say, eclipsed, by Callum."

The lawyer leans forward again, his gaze steady. "Sienna, if you haven’t violated any agreements and there’s no evidence of actual harm to your son, then Marcus doesn’t have much of a case. He can threaten court, but a judge isn’t likely to take action unless there’s a legitimate concern."

Relief washes over me, but it’s thin, like a patch over a crack in the wall. "So, what do I do?"

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